Kinsmen Arena upgrade project receives $220,000 donation

WATCH: The Kinsmen Arena upgrade project has received a $220,000 donation. Sierra D’Souza Butts has the details.

Kinsmen Club of Yorkton have donated $220,000 to the Kinsmen Arena upgrade project – a $4.5 million city project.

The donation will go directly towards replacing the arena boards and glass inside of the rink.

“We helped fund the facility back in 1972, as well as renovations along the way, and we know that this was a major renovation needed,” expressed Ron Hanishewsky, president of the club.

“We felt it was important that, again, we get on board to support (the project) and we looked at where we could have some impact on that facility, for us, that’s a major donation at that level.”

As part of the renovations, the project will also see a new concrete slab, accessibility and new bleacher seating, code and safety upgrades in the plant room, along with other improvements.

Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle said the donation was a great surprise.

“It’s super generous,” he expressed. “I think an interesting fact is that the project was moving ahead, we found the funds and for the Kinsmen Club of Yorkton to come forward and donate the money after the fact. It wasn’t something they needed to do, it just makes it that much more special and really appreciative of it.”

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Although the overall budget for the project remains the same, the city anticipates the donation will help take some weight off the city expenses.

“We’re sitting at $4.5 million approved for the Kinsmen Arena project so this donation from the Kinsmen Club has been earmarked for the rinks board and the glass,” Taylor Morrison the city’s director of recreation and community services, said.

“That’s definitely going to go a long way to help with the cost of the project overall.”

Morrison said the entire project is covered under Yorkton’s recreation levy.

“With the arena project, it has been approved utilizing the recreation levy. There’s no tax implications to the public on the project,” he said.

“That recreation levy is covering the cost for this project here at the Kinsmen Arena, as well as the Westland (Arena) improvements we made at the Gallagher Centre a few years ago, and the new club house out at Deer Park.

“That recreation levy is going to pay off these projects and it will become available again for use in 2031, is when everything will be paid off with that levy.”

As of late January, the city said they are on track with construction and anticipates opening the newly renovated arena in September 2025.

People can follow the progress of the upgrades on their website.